§ 51. Mr. MORLEYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state what international action he is taking to stop the fall in the price of silver?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEI would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Member for South Kensington and the hon. Member for the Chislehurst Division (Mr. Smithers) on the 17th February.
§ 56. Mr. SMITHERSasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the amount of silver coinage in the Bank of England, for the purpose of increasing its circulation, he will arrange that all payments by Government Departments be made as far as possible in silver?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEPayments made by Government Departments in cash are in the main weekly ages, and I can see no sufficient ground for compelling the recipients of those wages to accept them in silver coin. There is in any case a maximum limit within which silver coins are legal tender of £2 for any one payment.
§ Mr. SMITHERSWill not the Government take any steps to try to help the trade of this country?